Scalp cleansing device



March 23, 1937. E. A. MACMULLEN ET; AL 2,074,481

S CALP CLEANS ING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1934 22 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT SCALP CLEANSING DEVICE Edward Allan Macmullen and Frances Ann Macmullen, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Application April 28,

1 Claim.

Our present invention relates to an improved device for cleansing the scalp and more particularly for removing dandruff, loose hairs, or cut portions of hairs following cutting of the hair.

The principal object of our invention is to provide such a device which shall advantageously utilize the principle of simultaneous suction and brushing action. The advantages of our improvement will be apparent from the following description and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. i is a view in vertical elevation of an illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view showing a modified form of brush in plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3.

tor It, or other prime mover, equipped with a starting switch H, a handle l2, and a suction rotor l3. Rotor I3 is contained in a housing 14 having an air outlet l5 and an air inlet portion to which is joined hose 20. At the other end, hose 26 is joined in a manner well understood in the art to a coupling 2! which connects same with the handle 22 of the brush noted generally by A.

Coupling Z! is arranged to provide a chamber 22 30 in which is attached a strainer 23. In order to provide for the easy removal and insertion of the latter, the coupling 2| is provided preferably with a joint of the hinged type (hinge 25). The strainer itself is provided above and below the periphery thereof with rings 21, 28, such rings being partially contained within an annular recess in both hinged portions of the joint as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby firmly holding the strainer in place when the joint is locked.

A locking device is provided for the joint and comprises a spring 30 having a button or protuberance 3| which engages a corresponding recess in the upper hinged portion of the joint as shown in Fig. 1. The handle 22, which is hollow, has an enlarged bore to engage an extension 33 of the coupling 2|. Handle 22 contains the brush proper 35 which is held therein by means of screws 35, it being noted that the bore 36 of the handle terminates in a suction slot 31 preferably in the middle portion of the brush proper 34. A hand strap 38 also allows the instrument to be grasped directly behind the bristles of the brush as is customary with articles of this type.

- In use the motor is held in, say, the left hand or is mounted on a suitable stand, and the brush is grasped by the right, either by the handle 22 or beneath the strap 38, and is applied with a rubbing motion to the scalp with the motor running, and the simultaneous action of the brushing and suction effectively removes loosely adhering par- As shown, the device comprises an electric mo- 1934, Serial No. 722,861

ticles such as dandruff, etc. The latter are caught in the strainer 2| and the full eficacy of the treatment and the condition of the scalp may be quickly demonstrated by breaking the joint around hinge 25 and inspecting the strainer 23 after a few minutes treatment.

It will be understood that departures may be made from the exact form of the invention illustrated without departing from the spirit thereof.

A modified form of brush construction is indicated generally by a reference character A. In this construction the brush proper, designated 34 is arranged to be readily detachable from the handle portion 22*. For this purpose the handle portion is provided with an undercut recess 48. This recess extends to the one edge of handle portion 22 (the left hand edge in Fig. 3), so that the back of the brush may he slid into the recess and be retained therein by the undercut portions. The center of the brush is provided with an opening 3'! which communicates with the duct 35 of the handle so that the loose particles removed from the hair and scalp will be free to enter the duct. The advantage of the present construction resides in the fact that the brush may be quickly removed and replaced by a fresh one. The used brushes may be sterilized and strict sanitary conditions may thus be observed.

It will be understood that the strainer cups 23 may be of various sizes, depending upon the use for which the device is intended. It will be understood that when the device is intended for use in a dry shampoo, cups having a greater depth than that illustrated in the drawing may be employed. The cups, moreover, may be provided with medication, such as larkspur. This is of particular importance when the device is intended for the removal of vermin from the hair. In such case the medication will serve to exterminate the vermin as soon as it reaches the cup. The device of the present invention is thus well adapted for the treatment of animals.

We claim:

A coupling for a hair cleaning brush and a source of suction in a scalp-cleansing device of the class described, said coupling comprising complemental endwise abutting tubular members, a hinge connecting said members, one of said members having a recess on its outer face, a spring carried by the other of said members at a point opposite said hinge and projecting beyond the end of said member, said spring having a protuberance in its free end for engagement with said recess, and a removable cup-shaped strainer disposed within said coupling and held therein between the abutting ends of said tubular members.

' EDWARD ALLAN MACMULLEN. FRANCES ANN MACMULLEN. 

